Refrigerator cabinet



Patented Mer. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR CABINET of Pennsylvania.

Application November 3, 1934, serial No. 751,304 'z claims. (o1. 31a-isa) My invention relates Vto refrigerator cabinets, and particularly to an improved shelf arrangement therefor.

It is an object of my invention to improve the arrangement of the interior of a refrigerator cabinet to increase the accessibility of the articles of food, etc., stored in the food storage compartment.

It is another object of my invention to provide a refrigerator cabinet embodying a novel form of rotatable shelf in which maximum food storage space is available with minimum external dimensions. A

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a" part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a refrigerator cabinet constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a refrigerator cabinet, showing my novell rotating shelf;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the front'portion of the shelf and shelf support taken on line III-.III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the rear portion of the shelf support taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the shelf, shelf support and shelf stop taken on lines V-V of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 6, '7, 8, and 9 are diagrammatic views showing the rotatable shelf in various positions, illustrating the accessibility to articles in the food storage compartment, and demonstrating the relatively large amount of usable space available for food storage.

'Ihe embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings generally comprises a rectangular refrigerator cabinet having a rectangular food storage compartment. Upper and lower shelves for supporting articles in the food storage compartment substantially conform to the shape thereof, while an intermediate shelf is preferably of a different shape and is pivotally mounted so as to be angularly movable in a horizontal plane. Proportioning of the size and shape of the rotatable shelf, and proper disposition for the pivotal mounting of lthe rotatable shelf, provides for access to the shelf or food support below and to all parts of the rotatable shelf as it is turned. j

As will be more fully explained, my novel arrangementand construction combines the advantages of a rectangular refrigerator lwith the advantages of a rotatable shelf, and in addition to the new and useful results` obtained by the above combination, I have provided afnovel rotatable shelf and supporting structure by the use of which access is afforded to food articles stored below the rotatable shelf.

Referring specifically to the drawings for ay detailed description of my invention, numeral II' (Fig. 1) designates generally a refrigerator cabinet provided with a food storage compartment I2 and an access door I0 for the food storage compartment. vA cooling unit I3, having a space I4 for freezing liquids, cools and causes thermo-syphonic circulation of air in the food storage compartment I2, whereby articles of food I5 stored in the food storage compartment are properly preserved.

The articles of food I5 are supported on upper and lower horizontal shelves or supports I'I and I6, respectively, which conform in shape with the rectangular food storage compartment I2, and on a rotatable shelf I8 disposed intermediately of the shelves I 6 and I 'I. Suitable covered drawers I9 for the storage of certain articles of food may be disposed beneath `the lower shelf I8.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5 for a detailed A guard rail 26 is' shelf I8 to prevent articles of food from sliding off the shelf. l

A pivotal support is provided for the shelf I8 and comprises a cantilever supporting beam or arm 21 fastened to a rear wall 28 of the foodstorage compartment I2, intermediately of the upper and lower shelves I6 and I'I. The outer end of the arm 21 is provided with a bearing 29 for receiving the trunnion 23 and allowing it to rotate.

A stop mechanism is provided so that the shelf I8 always assumes its proper position in the food storage compartment I2. 'I'his stop mechanism may, for example, comprise 'a bar 3| bent toform a recess 32, the bar 3|` being fastened to the shelf I 8 preferably by welding., A roller mechanism 33 is provided at the rear of the cantilever arm 21, which roller is positioned in the recess'82 when the shelf I8 is in its normal position in the food storage compartment I2.- The shelf, when it is returned from a position other than normal, is prevented from over-swinging t-he normal position by the stop mechanism and is properly positioned inil the food storage compartment I2 so that the door I0 may be closed.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 6 to 9, for a description of how my invention may be used and the resulting advantages thereof, it willbe noted that the shelf trunnlon 23 is positioned adiacent the center of the chordal portion 22 yof the shelf I8. The bearing 29 `for the shelf trunni'on 281s positioned adjacent to the door I0 of the-cabinet I I and cooperates with the rotatable trunnion 23. The shelf I8, therefore, as it is rotated, assumes the positions shown in Figs. 6 to 9. In Fig. 6, the shelf I8 is shown in its normal position in the food-storage compartment. In Fig. 7 the shelf is rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction or 270 in a clockwise direction so that access may be obtained to the lower shelf I8 on the right hand side thereof, or access may be obtained to the portion of the rotatable shelf I8 which extends out of the food-storage compartment. In Fig. 8, the shelf I8 has been rotated 270 in a counterclcckwise direction, or in a clockwise direction, so that access may, be obtained to the lower shelf I6 on the left hand side thereof, or access may be obtained to the portion of the shelf I8 which extends out of the food-storage compartment. In Fig. 9, and in Fig. 1, the shelf I8 is shown rotated 180 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction so that a major portion thereof extends outside of the food-storage compartment, whereby access is obtained to all parts of the rotating shelf I8.

By utilizing a rotating shelf I8 disposed intermediately of upper and lower rectangular shelves, the rectangular shelf provides for maximum food storage space and the rotating shelf described aifords complete accessibility to the lower shelf. Although the: rear corners of the food-storage compartment adjacent the rotating shelf I8 have no supporting structure for food, the space is not wasted because articles of food of more than average height may be disposed on the lower shelf and extend above the level of the rotating shelf, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 6. The top shelf I1 may be a conventional shelf inasmuch as its vertical location is such that it is more accessible than the conventional bottom shelf. However, as will be apparent from the foregoing description, the latter shelf, because of the interposition of my new rotatable shelf structure, is Agiven a degree of accessibility comparable with the top shelf I1.

Since a rectangular refrigerator is best adapted for maximum food-storage space with minimum outside dimensions it will be apparent that I have combined the advantages of a rectangular food storage compartment with the advantages of a rotatable shelf type refrigerator, which combination, by the use of a novelrotating shelf and support, provide for complete access to all parts of the refrigerator. It is obvious, however. that the invention may be advantageously applied to refrigerators of shapes other than rectangular, and I do not wish to be limited to such a refrigerator except as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

While I -cave shown my invention in but one spaanse form, it will be obvious to'those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

1. A refrigerator including polygonally disposed vertical walls defining a food storage chamber, an access door for the food storage chamber located in one of the vertical walls, a rotatable, substantially .semi-circular shelf for receiving articles of food disposed in the food storage compartment and having its chordal portion. normally disposed adjacent the door, a fixed mounting pivotally supporting said shelf extending from a.A vertical wall of the food storage compartment to a point adjacent the middle of said chordal portion of the shelf and forwardly of the vertical centerline of that portion of the food storage compartment closed by said access door, whereby said shelf is rotatable partly out of the food` storage compartment when said door is open, and means disposed on the shelf andl on the mounting cooperating to position the shelf when the shelf is rotated to its normal position within the food storage compartment.

2. A refrigerator including polygonally disposed vvertical walls defining a food storage chamber, an access door for the food storage chamber located in one of the vertical walls, a rotatable shelf for supporting articles of food and disposed in the food storage chamber, said shelf having a front boundary normally disposed adjacent the door extending substantially across the food storage chamber and having' converging side boundaries extending rearwardly and joined near the rear wall of the food storage chamber, and a mounting fixed with respect to the cabinet, pivotally supporting said shelf and extending from a vertical wall of the food storage chamber to a point near the middle of the front boundary of the shelf and forwardly of the vertical centerline of that portion of the food storage chamber closed by said access door, whereby said shelf is rotatable partly out of the food storage compartment when the door is open.

3. A refrigerator including polygonally disposed vertical front, side, and rear Walls defining a food storage chamber, an access door for the food storage chamber located in the front vertical wall, a rotatable substantially semicircular shelf for supporting articles of food and disposed in the food storage chamber having its chordal portion normally disposed adjacent the door, a fixed cantilever mounting pivotally supporting said shelf extending from the vertical rear wall of the food storage compartment to a point adjacent the middle of the chordal portion of the shelf and forwardly of the vertical centerline of that portion of the food storage chamber which is closed by said' access door, whereby said shelf is rotatable partly out of the food storage ycompartment when the door is open.

4. A refrigerator comprising a substantially rectangular food storage chamber, an access door for the food storage chamber, a rotatable shelf for supporting articles of food and disposed in the food storage chamber, said shelf having a front boundary normally disposed adjacent the door and extending across the food storage chamber and having converging side boundaries extending rearwardly and joined near the rear wall of the food storage chamber, a xed mounting pivotally supporting said shelf and engaging the latter near the middle of the front boundary and forwardly of the vertical centerline of that portion of the food storage chamber closed by said access door, means spaced sufiiciently below said shelf for supporting additional articles of food beneath said shelf, means spaced above said shelf for also supporting articles of food, said shelf being rotatable in a horizontal plane about said fixed mounting when said door is open to uncover said lower` supporting means so as to afford access from above to the articles of food supported thereon and so as to afford movement of said shelf partly out of the food storage chamber, and means cooperating with said shelf to provide a food storage space, the horizontal extent of which is between the rearwardly extending side boundaries of said shelf and the rear corners of the food storage chamber, and the vertical extent of which is the distance intervening between the lower supporting means and the upper supporting means.

5. A refrigerator comprising a polygonal food storage chamber, an access door for the food storage chamber, an upper horizontal shell for supporting articles of food and occupying the rear corners of the food storage chamber, a rotatable shelf spaced sumciently below said upper shelf to support articles of food thereon in the food storage chamber, said ro table shelf having a front boundary normally d adjacent the door and extending across the food.' storage chamber and having converging side boundaries extending rearwardly and joined near the rear wall of the food stora'ge chamber, a mounting fixed with respect to the cabinet, pivotally supporting said rotatable shelf and engaging the latter near the middle of the front boundary and forwardly of the vertical centerline of that portion of the food storage chamber closed by said access door, said shelf being rotatable in a horizontal plane about said xed mounting when said door is open so as to afford movement of said shelf partly out of the food storage chamber, and a horizontal member disposed below said rotatable shelf and extending beyond the rear boundarythereof to provide a food storage space, the horizontal extent of which is between the rearwardly extending side boundaries of said rotatable shelf and the rear corners of the food storage chamber and. the vertical extent of which is the distance intervening between the lower horizontal member and the upper shelf.

6. A refrigerator comprising a substantially polygonal food storage chamber, an access door for the food storage chamber, a rotatable shelf for supporting articles of food disposed in the food storage chamber, said shelf having a front boundary normally disposed adjacent the door, extending across the food storage chamber and. having converging side boundaries extending rearwardly and Joined near the rear wall of the food storage chamber, a mounting xed with respect to the cabinet, pivotally supporting said shelf and engaging the latter near the middle of the front boundary forwardly of the vertical centerline of that portion of the, food storage compartment closed by said access door, a horizontal member spaced sufficiently above said shelf so as to not interfere with articles of food normally disposed on said shelf, said shelf being rotatable in a horizontal plane labout said fixed mounting when the door is open to afford movement of said shelf partly out of the food storage chamber, and a horizontal member spaced below said shelf for supporting foodstuffs, said lower supporting member extending beyond the rear boundary of the rotatable shelf to provide a food storage space, the horizontal extent of which is between the rearwardly extending side boundaries of said rotatable shelf and the rear corners of the food storage chamber and the vertical extent of which is the distance intervening between the -lower food supporting member and the upper horizontal member.

7. In a refrigerator cabinet, a food storage chamber embodying polygonally arranged rear l and side vertically extending walls, an access structural members except the upper end mem-A ber being arranged for supporting articles of food, one of said intermediate structural members being rotatable and the remaining intermediate structural members being normally xed and occupying the rear corner portion of the food storage chamber, said rotatable structural member having a front boundary normally disposed adjacent the door and extending across the food storage chamber and having converging side walls extending rearwardly and joined nearv the rear wall of the food chamber and spaced from the rear corners of the food storage chamber, a mounting xed with respect to the cabinet, pivotally supporting said rotatable member and engaging the latter near the middle of the front boundary and forwardly of the vertical centerline of thatr portion of the food storage chamber closed by said access door, said rotatable structural member being angularly movable in a horizontal plane partly out of said cabinet on either side of said fixed mounting when said door is open to provide access to said rotatable structural member and to provide access to the rear corner portions of a normally fixed structural member below said rotatable member and readily releasable means for retaining said rotatable structural member in a fixed normal position when the door is closed. GREGG F. FORSTHOEFEL. 

